N. Korean Nuclear Tensions On Upswing
S. Korea Says Northern Neighbor 'Likely' To Have Nuclear Weapon
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Play CBS Video Video Tangled Diplomacy On N. Korea The nations most concerned with the missile standoff with North Korea differ on how to deal with the renegade nation. Barry Petersen has more.
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Video Bilateral Or Multiparty Talks? Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., speaks to Bob Schieffer on "Face The Nation" about what may be the best approach to dealing with North Korea: One-on-one talks or multiparty negotiations.
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Video McCain On North Korea, Iraq Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks with Hannah Storm about topics such as North Korea, the recent charges against five U.S. soldiers in Iraq and whether he'll run for president.
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The fog surrounding these skyscrapers in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, is as thick as speculation and concern in the region over what the government there is likely to do next. (AP)
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South Korean soldiers run during South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, Ulchi Focus Lens, at a subway station in Seoul, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
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Interactive The Divided Koreas Follow the decades-long rift between North and South Korea. Learn about the people and history of each nation, and attempts to forge new ties.
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Interactive N. Korea: Tests And Threats Follow recent events and learn about this secretive nation's nuclear capabilities.
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Fast Facts North Korea Learn about the people, economy and history.
Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung told a parliamentary meeting that the Seoul government doesn't doubt the North has nuclear weapons.
"North Korea is now estimated to have one or two" nuclear weapons, Yoon said, according to a video of the meeting posted on the National Assembly Web site.
The comment was seen as a change in South Korea's assessment of the North's nuclear capability, with Seoul previously saying only that the North had the capability to build one or two nuclear weapons.
North Korea has claimed it has nuclear weapons, but it is not known if the isolated country has performed any tests confirming its claims. Many experts believe the North has enough radioactive material to build at least half a dozen nuclear weapons.
Concerns about a possible test flared after an American TV network reported last week, citing U.S. officials, that suspicious activity was observed at a possible underground nuclear test site in the North.
The United States, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea have tried to convince the North to abandon its nuclear program, through six-party negotiations that have been on hold since November.
There have been tensions this week as well.
"If North Korea does carry out its nuclear experiment, it will pose a grave threat to Japan, Northeast Asia and the international community," Shinzo Abe, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary, said Friday. "It will be absolutely unacceptable."
He declined to confirm or deny reports that Japan has ramped up its surveillance and instead urged Pyongyang to return to the stalled six-party talks on its nuclear disarmament.
"North Korea's nuclear problem should be resolved peacefully through the six party talks," said Abe.
North Korea has refused to return to nuclear disarmament talks until the United States lifts restrictions imposed on the communist regime for its alleged counterfeiting and money laundering.
South Korea and the United States have urged the hard-line regime to return to the talks without conditions, saying it is a law enforcement issue unrelated to the nuclear standoff.
North Korea lashed out Tuesday at current U.S.-South Korean military drills, saying they nullified the armistice in the 1950-53 Korean War and warning that it may take retaliatory action.
©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."





there are a few differences here one of which is that the iranian pin head has already made indications that he would like to see Israel "wiped" from the earth and that my friends is/would be and should be UN acceptable
- now if n korea said they'd like to wipe "japan" off the map there would be more attention...
as well, dealing with n korea "immediately" would be a logistical issue we are already in position to deal with irania
as well, when dealing with n kore ana we aren't just dealing with the dim wit - we also have to consider the other "brother" - china
They're insignificant and trying to be otherwise, but it won't happen via ignorant threats and more "mine is bigger than yours" banter.
I say if one more rocket leaves n korean soil we flatten whats left of them as a statement to irania.....